I see absolutely no upside to this signing. He is worse than Pie offensively and defensively. We have a lefty bat to hit behind Ramire, and this lineup is doing SO well, why throw a wrench in it?? Not to mention the harm to Pie...just let the kid play!!

I like it.

Gary Gaetti, huh. That was a good signing. The mistake I recall was resigning him for the next year.

Look, Pie is still young. I agree he needs playing time. And I agree that "if nothings broke why fix it," but I also see the upside of a player getting really motivated and wanting to play here.

Edmonds knows Wrigley. He knows it well. Im interested to see how this pans out.

And look. For $280,000 its not a bad idea.

If it works we're serious contenders.

If it doesnt we wasted little money, we can bring a motivated Pie back up and we're still contenders.

I've changed my mind, at that price move forward with the Edmonds experiment.

Thats league minimum according to the Tribune article Jeff.

Could be more, but I seriously doubt it.

Check that:

Sun-Times article. Not the Tribune.

Uhhh...Felix Pie has a higher AVG than Edmonds this season...AND plays better D...Oo;

Besides...Pie will MASH AAA...

uhm, Austin...... yoo hoo...... Earth calling Austin... Come in????

Austin for you to say that Mr. Jim Edmonds..... Mr CF in the NL for years.....

For you to throw up the statement that he is worse than Pie is just ludicrous...... This would be a smart veteran signing and give Pie yet another opportunity to "figure it out" down in the minors.

True he is a shell of his former self but my friend..... He still has pride and self esteem as a professional athlete.... You don't just "forget" how to hit...... Julio Franco just retired at 49!!!! He hit homers as a 40 something y/o....

Sign him Wednesday PM and watch what happens!!!

this can only help us........ and here's to you Larussa!! (Middle finger of both hands extended!!)

GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!

And with Edmonds in the lineup they can move Fukodome to the number 2 spot, which they've been wanting to do for awhile. I wasn't too high on this deal yesterday, I'm starting to realize it now. Plus, strong motivation can go a long way and perhaps help us out when the rest of the big boys aren't hitting so well.

WOW...Jim Edmonds a Cub!

Ummm...can I state that as a die-hard Cub fan and equally dedicated Cardinal hater I have despised Edmonds for years.

ok...got that out of system, now, back to what's best for the Cubs....I have to admit this signing would be best.

Power hitting left handed batter.

Proven defensive skills

Veteran from winng teams.

Motivated to help whip the Cardinals.

Career numbers show he should start hitting.

Strengthens our bench.

upsets Cardinal fans.

Yep....I guess I like it!!!!

Oh, they better get this done! As much as I HATE that erogant bastard Edmonds, he's a decnet CF. Why shouldn't they get him for the league min.? He's # 3 on the list for most HR's of active players active VS. the Cubs behind POO-HOLES and El Caballo.

Every player would love the opportunity to play in Chicago, notice how he told his agent to talk to Chicago 1st? A left handed bat, plus a gold glove calaber feilder and he'd love the glory in Wrigley. He's a ham and would love it here and do fine. They better get him.

He WAS a gold glove caliber fielder, he WAS a pretty good hitter. Emphasis on was because he isnt anymore. He wasnt even good enough offensively for the Padres, who are the worst offensive team in baseball. This is just Hendry trying to catch lightning in a bottle. At this point in his career, he is a lesser version of Reed Johnson.

I think it is a no-brainer. What do the Cubs have to lose by signing him? If his calf is healed, he could be a very good pickup. I think Pie will benefit by getting to play every day. He needs to play every day and in the current atmosphere it is difficult to pencil him in the lineup every day. We have a team that can go far and a little more veteran leadership will be valuable. If it does not work out, we can always go back to Pie. A no-brainer I say! GO CUBS!

What do we have to lose? Games. He doesn't have it anymore. I mean, this isn't a thing where my personal dislike of the man comes into play, I mean, it fuels it a little more, but when not a single baseball expert out there is even giving this a thumbs up or even a thumbs in the middle, you know it's a bad signing.

Fact is, Jim Edmonds is in as good of shape as he's probably going to get. And that shape caused him to misplay a good number of balls in center, which is a crucial part of the outfield and one we can't have balls misplayed in, especially when we have to established cannons in the corner spots, a suicidal go-getter with a beard there right now, and a speedy youngster who only seems to be able to field as his backup. And that sub .200 batting average? If Soriano was still batting in that area, he may have a hope, but he isn't. You know why? Because all the good hitters started hitting in the 200's about 13 games in.

And last, Edmonds isn't going to provide any sort of leadership. I mean, there are reasons why it's early May and only two guys have actually been DFA'd in the majors (Jacques being the other): it's because they're negatives in the clubhouse.

It doesn't matter how cheap he is, because he will wind up starting at least one game...a game he will most likely overperform in. And that will be followed by miscue after miscue and strike outs and double plays: all things we cannot afford with our momentum how it is. We just need to suck it up, send Pie down and bring up Fuld or have Cedeno try out center and bring up Murton, or even keep him up and beat the learning into him, and keep winning games.

This will be a mistake! He's an a-hole and he also SUCKS!!!! Why do you think the punchless Pads dropped him? We are tied for the best record in baseball, why fix something that isn't broke. Think of the disruption in the clubhouse. Zambrano hates him! I doubt Soriano will be thrilled considering his friendship with Pie, plus how's a me first hot dog gonna fit into a blue collar clubhouse?! Plus did I mention he SUCKS! Some people on this site will never be satisfied with our team, "Soriano sucks", "Theriot sucks", "DeRosa sucks", and they make me sick! Go get another team!

Those are pretty much my sentiments. Out of every professionally paid athlete ever, I may have dislikes for some of them due to their performances against my team or their underperformances on my team, but I've only really hated four of them as people: two pro wrestlers (WWE wrestler Randy Orton and Ric Flair) and two baseball players (Jacques Jones and Jim Edmonds).

But it's a point that needs to be pounded in: beyond the lack of talent on his part, this is a risk not worth taking. This team is finally starting to click with EVERY starter, and throwing Edmonds in there is going to cost us a few games we can afford to lose in a division that may very well come down to the last game.

If it ain't broke, DON'T fix it.

you know, after hearing this the first time i wasn't too sure it was a good idea to sign this guy. But the price seems very right. what is the worst that can happen? he completely blows so we let him go and eat 280,000 and we bring pie back up? i can think of a lot worse things the cubs have done for a lot more money throughout the years. besides pie has shown that he is not ready yet for the big leagues. who cares if he goes down and destroys AAA. the guy isn't good enough to hit at the major league level yet. back to edmonds. did anyone consider that maybe he was not happy in san diego which was possibly the reason he is doing so shitty this year. perhaps a winning team and motivation is the remedy. the law of averages says that his numbers will climb. would be nice to have him when that starts to happen. and like stated before, BIG DEAL IF IT DOESN'T!!!!!!

The chance of Jim Edmonds offering a lot of value on the field are slim, but Gramps, and others, are correct that the price is right. The Padres took a $6 million chance on Edmonds because we got Dome (Thank you JH), and they were desparate. Now they (and the Cards) have passed on him. The Pads owe him $5 million + for the rest of 2008, a hit they would take as a last resort.

It may be that JH will take the Edmonds chance because he doesn't have the budget to do something more exciting and Lou thinks Soto, Theriot and Cedeno are as many young position players as he wants to worry about. Maybe Edmonds can "find it" with 250 AB's, mostly against rhp's and hit .270 with around 15 home runs. The Pads park is not home run friendly--so he could do a lot better at Wrigley.

My preference still runs to a good player like Crisp or a prospect like Murphy (Rangers) or Seth Smith (Rockies). And that preference is because I think Pie is very iffy as a long term solution and we are hurting for top outfield prospects.

Barry:

He doesn't have it anymore. If players didn't decline, then no one would retire. He's older and slower, hence, worse than he was a few years ago. He is worse than Pie right now...both offensively and defensively. I know the deal is really cheap, but its still not worth it. You have to think about winning games, and were doing that right now. I don't want someone THE PADRES DROPPED to be batting FIFTH IN OUR LINEUP!

Mna, you guys who are negative with getting Edmonds are telling me that he's worse than Pie who's a rookie, batting .222 with only 63 at bats with 23 k's? That's sriking out 1/3 rd of the time. Johnson's bating .254, who bats right or even Ward who's batting .205. Whatb about Murton? Come on, Edmonds bats left your telling me he wouldn't be, at least, a good left handed bat off the bench? And getting him for peanuts? What are we paying Ward? But again, he's righty. I'm not dogging on Ward or anyone else, but I think Edmonds for the league minimum is something to take.....even though I HATE Edmonds. Do you guys wonder how or whb he left Anaheim right before they won in all? I do, becuase he's a jag off, cosky and errogant. Even rumors of him as a HOMO.

Neil

Since everyone is so split on this issue, if the cubs do sign edmonds we should revisit this thread in a month or two. Maybe pick out some of the predictions (on both sides) and see how everyone feels then. Just a thought.

Jeff

I say take a chance on edmonds. If it does not work out there is no big loss. I would rather see them take a chance on him than continue with pie (who has no clue at the plate) or Murton who is even worse. At least you know edmonds has the potential to be decent. Murton and pie have shown nothing other than the skill to hit weak grounders in the infield during crucial situations. I'm not saying do not give the younger players a chance but, Pie obviously is not ready and murton will never be a consistent run producer. When I look at our roster I am thrilled that we finally have a few home grown guys that are actually contributing to a winning team. With young guys like cedeno, soto, theriot, and marmol I do not see the harm in trying to "catch lighting in a bottle" like some have suggested with Edmonds.

jeremy,

You just made a point for those of us that don't want him.

"did anyone consider that maybe he was not happy in San Diego which was possibly the reason he was doing so sh***y this year"

San Diego is where he's from not to mention they gave him a 6 million dollar,2 year contract when NO ONE else wanted him. So he repays them by starting the year on the DL because he's old and brittle then doesn't try hard because he's unhappy!??!

Thanks but no thanks!

On a more positive subject the I-Cubs won again last night and as I listen to them on the radio they are up 3-1 thanks to a 3 run bomb by Hoffpauir and the pitching of Kevin Hart. Hoffpauir also homered last night going 3-5! This is the 7th game back in AAA for him and he has 8 rbi's already,is batting .333, and the I-Cubs are undefeated. I wish we could find a spot for him or include him in a trade for a front line starter.

Other players worth noting, apparently Sam Fuld has been battling a hand injury and is finally pain free. His avg. is now up to .213 and climbing.

Marshall started last night giving up 3 hits, 3 runs,2bb, and 3 k's. He gave up the runs in the 4th surrendering a 3run homer. His day was over after 4 innings and 63 pitches.

Murton hit 2 doubles last night and had a hit and scored on Hoffpauir's homer today to raise his average to .384!

Kevin Hart just left the game after 4 innings giving up only 2 hits, 1 walk, 6 strike outs, and oly one run on a solohr in the 1st. He was at 64 pitches. His era is now 2.53. It's interesting that they're only letting Marshall and Hart go 4 innings. It must be part of a plan to "stretch" them out. They obviously both need to limit their pitch counts.

Well like it or not looks like "the Homo"...Mark's words not mine....will be a Cub tomorrow. ESPN'S Jason Stark reported on the Mike and Mike show that it's a done deal. Here comes Mr. Frosted Tips Edmonds! YAAAHHHH! :(

Good, now Edmonds can live in BOYS TOWN.......it's right around the block from Wrigley.....right Cory? hahahaha!

FYI...Ward bats left and is a risk defensively. Murton can't play CF--the position JH and Lou are trying to shore up. The pro-Edmonds folk are right re. the short term cost. The anti-Edmonds folk are likely right that Edmonds isn't the answer. There is a slight chance that he could be productive on a good team in Wrigley.

Is there anyone who wouldn't prefer a guy like Crisp, who is on the block and hitting .300 + and would likely cost us something like Hart and Donaldson? If payroll is an issue and Lou would take another rookie, we might get Seth Smith for Hart or Marshall. If Marquis does real well tonight, maybe he gets into the trade mix. (That may amount to wishfull thinking twice!)

My team goals player-wise are a solid answer in CF, another top starter and a lefty reliever before the end of June.

Cory, thanks for the Iowa update. It is to bad we can't find a spot for Hoffpuair.

For the price we would be stupid not to sign him..say what u want about his diminished skills for 280,000 this is a no risk VERY HIGH Reward signing

I dont like the guy but, I dont think it will change anything. It effect us badly. It can only help. Pie wasn't producing anything. Russ has been doing a decent job. Edmonds will just add another option. If he dont produce then he will be an option off the bench. But its not going to effect us negitively.

This still has the ability to have a good game every once in a while. When did Pie have a good game.......never.

I'll give him a chance.

What I want to know is, what the hell is the deal with the Astros hanging around? Get back down at the borttom of the division were you belong and take the Cardinals with you.

Easy there Mark, I live in Des Moines and although i've noticed numerous rainbows near Wrigley during my visits to the ballpark I know nothing about "boy's town" I'll take your word on that and hopefully Jimmy E will be happy there!

Why is everyone getting so fired up about this potential move? It's really not going to effect us much either way and is very easy to reverse if it doesn't work out.

I Cubs win again today 5-2. That's 7 in a row and they remain unbeaten with Hoffpauir in the lineup. They're in 1st, a game and a half ahead of Omaha. Hoffpauir hit a 2 run double in the bottom of the 8th knocking in Sam Fuld and Eric Patterson to go along with his 3 run homer in the 1st....he's pretty good!

Lou and Hendry want a left handed power bat behind Aram. what about Hoffpauer??? I know he doesn't play center and isn't 40 and falling apart but worth a shot.

Jim: right on. Hoff-power would be a much better addition than Edmonds. Im still against signing him, I don't see this netting us any more wins than giving Pie the CF job. What does he have left to prove in AAA? He's going to go down there and kill the ball, then we are tied up with Edmonds old, broken, worthless self keeping Pie in the minors.

That's really good news being reported from Iowa on Murton, Hoffpauir, Hart and Marshall (and Hill too as I recall). Among them, EPat, Ascaino and a couple of guys on our every day roster, we are gaining some worthwhile call up's or trading chips.

It is a fact that a few pleasant surprises become available every year from the discard list. For JH to have good results with Edmonds as well as Johnson would mean kudos for JH and a prayer answered by the baseball gods.

Ok...here is how I see this going down.

Jim Hendry acquires Edmonds, because it is a cheap signing, and it goes with the Hendry mantra of hoping to get lucky with lightning in a bottle.

Edmonds, knowing this is probably his last hurrah, contacts Jose Canseco, and they meet in a bathroom stall somewhere in DesMoines.

Next thing you know, Edmonds is crushing a few homers in Wrigley against his former Cardinal teammates, and the world is a perfect place.

The local sports radio host just had on the publisher of Goatrider.com and he is very much against Edmonds. Said he was a cancer in the clubhouse in St. Louis and basically in other words he sucks. He also said that it's one reason he can't stand Hendry when he does one of these proclamation projects. Also added why mess with a team that appears to be clicking!

I agree.

Here's the other thing: you SAY $250K or so to sign him, but do you really, honestly think Jim Hendry is going to offer him less than a million? In fact, seeing as how other teams have smartened up to that, they may start making noise that they may possibly be thinking about considering signing Edmonds to get his price tag up another few million. No...chances are very good that this will be in the 3-4 million dollar range. And that? That is far too expensive of a gamble.

In other news, Mark Prior still hasn't thrown a baseball and is scheduled to meet with famed surgeon Dr. Andrews again this week. I sure miss the guy...wish we would've locked him up long term!

Boseph, he wont be much more expensive than the minimum. If Im wrong I have no problem eating crow on it.

Question everyone. How many of you are up in arms about this potential signing just because he was a Cardinal?

I think so many are against it because he was.

No matter which side you are on, please dont let that be the deciding factor.

We are high enough in the standings where we can take a gamble like this. If one player in CF really costs us that many games, Im sure Lou wont hesitate to pull the plug.

Having Pie hit 8th every other 3rd game isn't making him better and he's not good enough to play everyday. Edmonds is a low risk move with a high upside if he can figure it out. I've never really heard much about him being a jerk. All I know he was, yes...was, one of the best defensive CF I have ever seen and has played for some winners. Having guys who win is never a bad thing to have around. If he stinks it up, he won't be around long. I can't remember who it was that we got a year or two ago that was pretty well washed up, gave him a couple weeks of play them dumped, but I see it being a situation like that if he doesn't perform. If he does well we'll all be praising Hendry, if he doesn't, he'll be gone, and all but forgotten. For the life of me though I can't seem to think of the guy we picked up then dropped a couple weeks later...driving me nuts. But my point was, that Pie isn't getting better and won't get better hitting 8th every 3rd game and he's not good enough to start. Picking up Edmonds will allow Dome to hit 2nd and possibly give some lefty pop behind Aram and in front of Soto or Dero. Another reason he may have sputtered in SD is that he may have not seen many pitches to hit in their crumby line-up. I'm not really sure, didn't watch too many SD games, but it's not a bad move because he will either do good or do bad and leave. So I say why not...The guy I was thinking of may have been Phil Nevin or someone crappy like that, Ben Grieve...even though we had him for longer than I would care to remember...I can't remember...Mabry?? Gerut?...who knows...

Yeah thats it! It's because he was a Cardinal.

Never mind what's been stated all day long. He's a selfish player, a cancer in the clubhouse, Zambrano hates him, was released by a team with a horrible offense as well as record, apparently's a homo, has substantially declined offensively over the last 3 years, has the range in the outfield of Hector Vilanoava, has already been on the DL, and basically SUCKS!

Nope it's because he was a f'n Cardinal!

Chill out man. Just a theory on some people.

I cant help but imagine that Edmonds will hit better with Soto protecting him rather than Josh Bard.

That's kind of what I was getting at(hitting in front of better hitters), but I took a look at his numbers the past few years...yikes, he's definitely on a downward trend, but who knows. Maybe he'll pull a Rat (Gary G.) and be really goodfor us. Risk vs reward factor says it's an okay move.

This board loves to give up on people. First it was Theriot (.333, OBP .413, 19BB, 14ks), then DeRosa (.279, OBP .397), and now Pie/Johnson.

The problem with signing Edmonds, besides the obvious reasons of age, diminished capacity and production (anybody watch him last year?? .257 in 117 games and no range) is that he's taking Pie's spot in the lineup. When we have a one run lead, you want to leave Soriano in LF? Or do you want Edmonds in CF who has less range than Johnson when he moves to LF? This is NOT a situation I want in my outfield with the game on the line.

I understand the price but get somebody who has some upside. Edmonds has shown none the past two years, even while getting paid and going to his hometown. Let Pie play 15 games (w/ about 50 ABs) and then call the experiment a succes or failure. The rest of the team is hitting well and a homestand is the perfect time to experiment.

Forget Edmonds. Save Pie.

In the way we are all occasionally wrong but never in doubt, I'm predicting that JH will NOT sign Edmonds. JH can see that several other teams are likely ready to deal sooner rather than later, and he senses that there are better alternatives available than Edmonds. He and Lou will decide that they don't want to be 30 games further into the season and likely to still have a center field problem.

Wow, after reading all the posts I am still torn on this signing. I understand and can appreciate both sides of the argument but it is a tough call. I suppose Edmonds will dictate the effect. Pie gets another month or so at AAA to work on his "big league" shortened swing and Edmonds gets to prove if he has anything left in the tank. If Edmonds struggles badly right out the gate, dump the cheap experiment and get Pie right back in the mix.

Dude. We all want the Cubs to win this year (and shut the idiot southsiders up for a while). But I can't imagine that this is the answer in center. Edmonds is slower both in the outfield and on the basepath and he hit a MISERABLE .178 with SD. Potential psycho damage to Pie aside and a cooling off of Johnson looked away from, why change the clubhouse vibe, even if it is for a short period? Two teams' trash is seldom another's treasure.

If Jim Edmonds brings a team down so much, then why has he helped a team win a world series hitting 257.?
He may be cocky, he may be arrogant, but hes a winner, and he will bring a world series title to the north side

Jeff, very good idea and I will if they sign him. I will also include the comments from tonight's Talkin'

Do yuo guys think this will mess with the teams chemistry? I sure hope not..